Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been ruled out for the team’s second straight game due to an AC joint sprain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.
Mac Jones, who was acquired by Jacksonville via trade in March, will start for the Jaguars (2-8) in Sunday’s game against the host Detroit Lions. Jacksonville will head into its bye following the game.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said that it made sense for the team to give Lawrence additional rest with the bye on the horizon.
As for Lawrence’s possible return to action after the bye?
“It’s still a question mark but I’m optimistic,” Pederson said.
Lawrence, 25, missed the second game of his NFL career last Sunday.
Jones, 26, completed 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards and two interceptions as the Jaguars dropped their third straight decision with a 12-7 setback versus the Minnesota Vikings.
“He’s excited to have another opportunity,” Pederson said. “Obviously another chance for him to rebound from last week. As a team, same (thing). (We’ll) rally around him and support him and get ready to play a really good football team.”
Jones has thrown for 139 yards and two picks in three games this season and completed 66.0 percent of his passes with 46 touchdowns and 38 interceptions in 45 career games with New England and Jacksonville. He was selected by the Patriots with the 15th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lawrence sustained the injury in the second quarter of Jacksonville’s 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 3. He finished the game, however, and completed 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards and two interceptions.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions through nine starts in 2024.
